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It was quite a remarkable situation the Hilderincs found themselves in when only four of the eighteen who played in last week’s pre-season opener were available for the second friendly game in the preparation series.

With a huge chunk of players missing, and with added significance of the tie doubling as Erdogan Albay’s farewell game, the Blacks quite fittingly set out a combined side as the German had graced both Saturday and Sunday Hilderinc sides with eminence.

However, number were again a factor as withdrawals and couple of matchday no shows proved detrimental for the Blacks’ cause, and quandary was only alleviated by the eleventh hour inclusion of Darren Tan and Arkar, who were god-sent, especially in another sweltering afternoon, though having one goalkeeper and a single outfield substitute called for special planning for game management.

Despite the deficiencies, there were no insufficiencies in quality as the Hilderincs were in absolute command of the proceedings from the get go against a team they had steamrolled 7-1 in last season’s pre-season friendly, though they did so with a full complement of players back then.

Setting the tone for his final outing for the Hilderincs, Erdogan Albay, who was captaining the side, was in the heart of the action, and was instrumental in the Blacks’ opening inside two minutes.

At the back of a finely worked move, the German playmaker delightfully found Ian Morris inside the Naranja AFC box, but the forward almost embarrassed himself with an attempted flick which got caught inside his feet, but was a relieved man to have another bite of the cherry, putting the ball away at the second chance.

With the goal, the Hilderincs turned on the bravura as they put on a dominant display, passing and moving the ball with poise, while purposefully rouletting the midfield dynamics with Rama Witjaksono, Darren Tan, Kumaresan Maniam and Arkar, offered timely reprieve from their impressive performance.

The Blacks were however unfortunate not to go into the break with a bigger advantage as Erdogan Albay, Omar Mahnin and Darren Tan coming close to adding to the tally, with the latter hitting the post with a well take attempt.

The restart was no different from the first as the impenetrable quartet of David Zheng, Nicholas Ledenmark, Dionisis Kolokotsas and Kavin Singh maintained their highest order, in front of Liao Jincai, which proved to be the launch pad of much of the Hilderincs’ advances.

Playing with fluidity, the Blacks were a constant menace, constantly looking for the slightest opportunity to pry open the Naranja backline, which was forced to sit deep in an attempt to ride the Black tide, but with the quality on hand, the task was easier said than done.

Omar Mahnin, who was on the end of a couple of attempts turned provider when he broke free into the opponent’s final third before laying a perfectly weighted ball for Ian Morris to slot in to double the Hilderincs’ advantage.

With such class around him, it was a first ever recorded Hilderinc hat-trick for Ian Morris who hit his treble from another close range finish after he was the beneficiary of another Erdogan Albay pin-point pick after an unmatched slalom by the departing player, who emphasised what a massive loss he will be.

If the Hilderincs first three goals were close range finishes, the fourth was a different grade, as Darren Tan capped his day with a belter from distance, arguably the goal of the game.

Another goal glut was on the cards when Omar Mahnin and Erdogan Albay came closest again in the second half as they did in the first, and though a late goal for the opponents could have been avoided, there was little to complain as the Hilderincs gave a masterclass display despite playing with a desperately limited squad but one that was highly proficient.